Error Message: Error Loading C:\Windows\System\Setup.exe

 Last reviewed: January 11, 1996
Article ID: Q142329
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

After you install or remove Norton Utilities for Windows 95, Norton AntiVirus for Windows 95, or Norton Navigator, you may receive the following error message when you restart Windows 95: 

   Error loading C:\Windows\System\Setup.exe.
   You must reinstall Windows.

CAUSE

This error message can occur when Symantec's installation program cannot change the Windows 95 shell to Windows Explorer after installing or removing a program. Symantec Technical Support has confirmed that this problem occurs when a System.in_ file is present in the Windows folder.

RESOLUTION

Follow these steps to set Windows Explorer as the Windows 95 shell:

  1. Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8 key, and then choose Command Prompt Only.

  2. Use any text editor (such as Edit.com) to open the System.ini file in the Windows folder. To use Edit.com, type the following line: 

          edit c:\windows\system.ini

  3. Change the line that reads 

          Shell=C:\Windows\System\Setup.exe

    to: 

          Shell=Explorer.exe

  4. Save the System.ini file and then close the editor.

  5. Restart your computer.

To prevent the problem from reoccurring, delete or rename the System.in_ file in the Windows folder.

MORE INFORMATION

The third-party products discussed in this article are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

KBCategory: kb3rdparty kberrmsg
KBSubcategory: win95 appscomp
Additional reference words: 95 nu

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Last reviewed: January 11, 1996
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